Agenda item

5.1

The Committee received a referred joint petition on Pension Divestment from the Full Council meeting of 20 July 2022. June Cattell spoke on this petition representing the Sheffield Campaign for Divestment from companies responsible for human rights abuse in Palestine. Ms Cattell made reference to the petition that was taken to the Full Council in July and that it dealt with other issues such as Human Rights, International law, local democracy and opposition to apartheid. An example was referred to around the amendment to the pensions bill linking to the boycott bill, prohibiting support for boycott actions. Ms Cattell expressed the continuing need for the Council to uphold international law and recognise the apartheid that is taking place in Israel and Palestinian territories. Ms Cattell also spoke on the SYPA investment strategy with specific references to Human Rights, Climate and the use of representative to monitoring and challenge the decisions made by SYPA.

The Chair thanked June Cattell and explained that a response had been given at the Full Council meeting in July but that further legal advice would be sought for a full written response on the points raised.

5.2

Andy Kershaw attended the Committee and asked the following questions:

1.    What is the financial model for the Graves Park Charity and who makes decisions on the application of income and expenditure and who are the 11 staff quoted as supported by the revenues?

2.    Why has no revenue income from the Cafe been spent on repairs & maintenance in the last 14 years?

3.    It’s 50 days since the closure of the café and the loss of 12 jobs as a direct result of this so will the committee provide a compensatory sum to each member of staff who has lost employment as a result of this closure?

4.    When will an urgent decision be made as to a temporary replacement for the café and will this committee allocate emergency funds to facilitate this today?

The Chair explained that the questions were accepted beyond the submission deadline and that a written response would be arranged.